Associate Professor in Muscle Physiology

Associate Professor in Muscle Physiology

The position

A full-time position as Associate Professor is available at the Department of Physical Performance at the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences (NIH) from January 2027 or soon thereafter.
We are seeking an ambitious and collaborative researcher with expertise in human muscle physiology and experimental research. 

The successful candidate will join an established and internationally recognised research environment with extensive activity in research, education and laboratory-based studies of skeletal muscle adaptations to exercise, physical activity and health.

The position is intended to strengthen and further develop existing research activities within muscle physiology at NIH. We are therefore looking for a candidate who is motivated to contribute to and build upon ongoing research programmes and strategic priorities within the department, while also bringing new perspectives and complementary expertise.

The successful candidate is expected to play an important role in both research and education. NIH places strong emphasis on the integration of research, teaching and dissemination, and we are looking for a candidate with a clear interest in teaching, student supervision and knowledge sharing with both academic and non-academic audiences.

Responsibilities

The successful candidate will:

• Contribute to the further development of NIH's established research activities in muscle physiology.
   
• Conduct and lead experimental studies in humans, including participant recruitment, physiological testing, data collection, and laboratory-based research.
   
• Develop and contribute to externally funded research projects and national and international research collaborations.
   
• Teach and supervise students at bachelor's, master's, and PhD levels within exercise physiology, muscle physiology, and related disciplines.
   
• Contribute to the development of high-quality teaching, supervision, and student-centred learning activities.
   
• Disseminate research findings to scientific, professional, and public audiences.
  Participate in academic leadership and contribute to a positive and collaborative research environment.

Qualification requirements

Applicants must have

• A PhD (or equivalent) in exercise physiology, muscle physiology, physiology, biomedical sciences, molecular biology, or a closely related field.
• A strong research profile within human muscle physiology or skeletal muscle biology.
• Experience conducting experimental research involving human participants.
• Expertise in the collection and analysis of human skeletal muscle samples and laboratory-based investigations of skeletal muscle adaptations.
• Strong competence in statistical analysis and interpretation of physiological and biological data.
• A documented record of high-quality scientific publications in internationally recognised journals. 
• Experience with teaching and supervision in higher education.
  Excellent oral and written communication skills in English.

A prerequisite for permanent employment is documented basic pedagogical competence (university teaching certification). Applicants who do not meet this requirement at the time of appointment must obtain it within two years.
 

Desired Qualifications

Preference will be given to candidates with documented expertise in one or more of the following areas:

• Skeletal muscle adaptations to exercise training, physical activity, inactivity, ageing, or disease.
   
• Cellular and molecular mechanisms regulating muscle metabolism, function, and plasticity.
   
• Human muscle physiology and translational exercise science.
   
• Muscle fibre-specific adaptations and regulation of muscle phenotype.
   
• Mechanistic studies examining exercise and/or nutritional interventions in humans.
   

Experience with one or more of the following methodologies will be considered an advantage:

• Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence.
   
• Confocal and advanced microscopy imaging.
   
• Western blotting and protein analyses.
   
• Single-fibre dissection and fibre type-specific analyses.
   
• Molecular biology techniques, including gene and protein expression analyses.
   
• Quantification of muscle morphology, capillarisation, mitochondrial characteristics, and cellular signalling pathways.
   
• Advanced physiological measurements, omics technologies, bioinformatics, or translational clinical research.

Additional strengths include

• Experience in securing external research funding.
   
• Successful interdisciplinary and international collaborations.
   
• Experience managing research laboratories and supervising technical staff and junior researchers.
   
• Documented dissemination and public engagement activities.
   

The department particularly welcomes applicants who can bridge molecular and cellular muscle biology with applied exercise physiology and contribute to strengthening NIH's position as an internationally recognised centre for research on skeletal muscle adaptations to physical activity, exercise, ageing, and health.

Selection Criteria

Applicants will be assessed based on

• Scientific quality, originality, and future potential.
   
• Ability to strengthen and further develop the department's established research activities in muscle physiology.
   
• Experience conducting and leading experimental studies in humans.
   
• Teaching qualifications, pedagogical competence, and supervision experience.
   
• Ability to attract external funding and establish productive collaborations.
   
• Dissemination, communication, and outreach activities.
   
• Interpersonal skills and ability to contribute to a positive academic environment.

Candidates invited for interview may be asked to give both a scientific presentation and a teaching demonstration.

Proficiency in a Scandinavian language (Norwegian, Swedish, or Danish) is considered an advantage, as it will facilitate teaching, supervision, and collaboration within the department.

Proficiency in oral and written English is required. 

Applicants who do not speak a Scandinavian language must acquire Norwegian language skills at level B2 within three years.

Working conditions

We offer:

• Salary as Associate Professor (position code 1011) from NOK 830 000 - 930 000, depending on experience and qualifications. Salary is set according to the Basic Collective Agreement for the Civil Service
• The appointment will be made according to terms applying to civil servants
• good pension and insurance arrangements through the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
• Working place is Department of Physical Performance at NIH
• Attractive welfare benefits such as excellent training facilities, including a corporate sports club and training during working hours
• Immediate proximity to the metro, secure bicycle parking, and access to electric vehicle charging

Formal regulations

Selected candidates will be interviewed.

NIH personnel and recruitment policy aims at taking into account the diversity of the Norwegian population to the greatest possible extent. It is an explicit aim to search for age and gender balance and to recruit competent applicants with minority background. Women and persons with minority background are encouraged to apply.
Applications will be handled according to the relevant regulations as defined in the Norwegian Open Files Act.

According to the Norwegian Freedom of Information Act (Offentleglova) information about the applicant may be included in the public applicant list, also in cases where the applicant has requested non-disclosure. The clause of exemption gives the right, but not the obligation, to refuse access to documents relating to employment in the public service, see Freedom of Information Act § 25. In our recruitment system, applicants will be given the opportunity to request to be exempt from public access, but it is up to the employer to determine whether the request can be approved or not. If the applicant's desire to be exempt from public access is not approved by the employer, the applicant will be notified so that he/she can withdraw the application.

Contact information

Interested applicants are advised to contact the academic community in preparing the application. Further details can be obtained by contacting:

• Head of Department, Truls Raastad, tel. +47 91368896, trulsr@nih.no

Contact administration for questions regarding the application or the recruitment system:

• HR Department, Bente Johansen-Aarbostad, bentejoh@nih.no 

How to apply 

The Application must be in English.

Applicants will be assessed by an expert committee. 
By the application deadline, please upload the following documents together with your application:

• Application letter
   
• CV (including teaching and supervision experience, and the name and contact information of at least three references)
   
• A complete list of publications
   
• Copies of certificates/diplomas (including formal education in pedagogics, if applicable)
   
• A statement of future research plans and information about research activities
   
• Teaching qualifications and management experience

If the applicant wants other material to be considered in the evaluation (publications and other documentation of research and teaching qualifications, as well as management experience), such material must be clearly specified and available electronically.

The application with attachments must be delivered in our electronic recruiting system. Please note that all documents must be in English or a Scandinavian language. International applicants are advised to attach an explanation of their university’s grading system. 

International applicants, or applicants who hold an international degree, are advised to apply the Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills for recognition of education from abroad: https://hkdir.no/en/foreign-education/education-from-outside-of-norway/recognition-of-foreign-higher-education-bachelor-master-and-phd